The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District discussed changes at Lake Nimrod, Lake Dardanelle and Toad Suck Ferry Parks and Murray pools of the Arkansas River at a public workshop Tuesday at the Russellville Project Office on Lock and Dam Road.

The reduction of the district’s operations budget by $17 million this year prompted the proposed closing of some area parks and a reduction of services at others. Twenty-nine parks in the district were affected, with 13 total camping closures, four partial camping closures, four total day-use area closures, one partial day-use area closure and 10 boat ramp closures.

Miles Johnson, Russellville project office program manager, said the closing and adjustments made to Arkansas parks was a gradual process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers looking at numbers from several years to determine how to best serve the public.

“We have to adequately meet the needs of the public,” Johnson said. “We’re looking at how to best serve hundreds of thousands of people instead of just focusing on tens of thousands or even a hundred people.”

Seven of the 16 parks in the Lake Dardanelle district are affected, including the total closure of Cabin Creek in Knoxville, closure of the 16 campsites at Cane Creek in Scranton, total closure of Delaware Park in Delaware and Dwight Mission in Russellville, partial day-use closure in Dublin Park in Scranton and reduction of season by 120 days at Piney Bay in London and Shoal Bay in New Blaine.

Talking points distributed by the Little Rock district cited a low efficiency rating and its close proximity to state park facilities as reason for the total closure of Delaware Park. Local residents are working with the Corps to form partnerships for alternative ownership.

The reasons cited for the closure of Dwight Mission were its proximity to Illinois Bayou Park, which has lake access across U.S. Highway 64 and that it is an “eyesore.”

Johnson said the Corps look to federal, state, county and city agencies and even nonprofits to lease the closed parks.

Laurie Drivers, Little Rock public affairs specialist, said volunteers help keep budget costs down and there are always opportunities for citizens to volunteer.

“Volunteer opportunities at parks help to stretch our budget, for anyone looking for opportunities to help the park systems,” Drivers said.